This is to introduce you to our ‘Elderly People’s Forum’ which was founded and registered in 1994 with the sole objective of serving to the needs and care of senior citizens residing in Delhi and adjoining states. The welfare activities include medical, educational and recreational activities. Our performance has been recognised by the Social Welfare Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi and we are also getting grants from the government, besides good accommodation for recreation of our elderly members. The contribution of the Forum for development of the area is also extraordinary. Quite recently on international day of older persons, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi awarded our president for the social service done for senior citizens in Delhi. From a humble membership of 25 members in the beginning, the Forum is now having over 500 members on its rolls. We are a small organisation but making a big difference.

A senior citizen is the most vulnerable individual in society today. Deteriorating health, malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, boredom, non-productivity, and financial incapacity are the most common problems faced by senior citizens in India. While it may not be the panacea to aging-related problems, the value of money cannot be overstated in the post-retirement period. A financially- handicapped senior citizen, afflicted with some degenerative or serious illness, practically feels that he/she has reached the end of the road.

The pension income which they derive after retirement is very less and the imposition of tax not only burden them with the responsibility of paying tax on their meagre income but also the avoidable botheration of filing tax returns. The government is taxing not only their pension but also interest on their fixed deposits. Tax on elderly pension is like adding woe over worry. Almost all of them suffer from a hell of a lot of problems and for this they need money to solve some of their worries, especially their health issues.​The need of the hour is to take effective steps to ensure financial security for the retired elderly people. Dispensing with Income Tax on the pension and interest on fixed deposits of senior citizens will be a small step in this direction The government loss of income-tax on pension and savings of senior citizens will be compensated by zero expenditure on assessment and scrutiny of their income-tax returns. It is therefore pleaded that you kindly use your good offices to revamp present system of taxation of senior-citizen pensioners and make their life easier by exempting them from the liability of paying income tax and filing Income Tax Returns if they do not have income other than their pension and interest on fixed deposits. Not only the senior citizen members of our Elderly People’s Forum, but the whole community of elderly brothers and sisters will be indebted if you could kindly consider the request favourably and oblige.

Thanking you for your kind consideration and doing the needful,Yours sincerely,